Fifty Plus (50+) - Speedblend tires.......looking sweet or looking like a dork??

I'm putting 32's (maybe 35's) on my urban street/dirt road/curb jumping run around bike-- an RB-T. I'm considering Pasela TG with Speedblend sidewalls. Tire pictured below. Will rough and ready reverse rim pick-up types single me out as a flittery twit, will OCP's gun by me with contempt, etc.?

In other words, does anybody use them and are they a pain to have on your bike? Maybe this is only an issue to me and I won't get the attention I fear and desire.

Wow

I hope you're planning to do a great deal of night riding.

Just sayin.

Can you get streamers to match them?

I'm putting 32's (maybe 35's) on my urban street/dirt road/curb jumping run around bike-- an RB-T. I'm considering Pasela TG with Speedblend sidewalls. Tire pictured below. Will rough and ready reverse rim pick-up types single me out as a flittery twit, will OCP's gun by me with contempt, etc.?

In other words, does anybody use them and are they a pain to have on your bike? Maybe this is only an issue to me and I won't get the attention I fear and desire.

So if you are riding your "urban street/dirt road/curb jumping run around bike", then OCPs will treat you with contempt no matter your tire selection. MTBers will ignore such a bike, so ride what you will.

I bought a pair of the Speedblend 700X27s from Rivendell on a close-out special. They just barely fit one of my road bikes, but I thought 2 such tires on a decent road bike was a bit too much color. Now I only have one on the rear wheel, that way I don't have to look at it too much. Forget the color, the tire has been great and has outlived my expectations.

PS - Betcha didn't think you'd get a response from another Speedblend user.

I think they look just fine. I saw a couple of "guys" that had them when I was on vacation in San Francisco.

Looks like fun. Do they glow in the dark?

I'm assuming you're planning on fitting them to a bike owned by someone you secretly don't like :D

Richard

I hope you're planning to do a great deal of night riding.

They do not glow in the dark. No positive impact on visibility, at least none that I have observed.

Can you get streamers to match them?

I believe this idea was patented by Grant Petersen at Rivendell, at least he was attempting to get a patent. He told me the idea was to combine colors/pattern so that on an automobile you would be able to visually tell if the vehicle was exceeding a certain speed limit by the "blended" color, ie. speed-blend. So he got Pasela to try it on a bike tire as a preliminary prototype. This was a few years back, never got an update.

I was gonna buy a pair of those tires, but used the money for some LSD instead. Now all my tires look like that. :eek:

Those are way cool tires. You WILL get the attention you fear and desire.

I was gonna buy a pair of those tires, but used the money for some LSD instead. Now all my tires look like that. :eek:


Louis, that was great.

I was gonna buy a pair of those tires, but used the money for some LSD instead. Now all my tires look like that. :eek:

When you start reading about LSD on the 50+ forum it reminds you there are still a lot of old hippies out there. Right on, brother.

Personally, I think Grant Petersen came up with those tires just for me. I was a little concerned that I was too easily influenced by some of his Bobish philosophies. Now I can clearly point out one of his ideas that I have absolutely no desire to try.

When you start reading about LSD on the 50+ forum it reminds you there are still a lot of old hippies out there. Right on, brother.

You're either on the bus or off the bus. ;)

When you start reading about LSD on the 50+ forum it reminds you there are still a lot of old hippies out there. Right on, brother.

If you can remember the 60's, you weren't there.

It's been a long time since then but I still try to remember the good stuff. :o

Personally, I think Grant Petersen came up with those tires just for me. I was a little concerned that I was too easily influenced by some of his Bobish philosophies. Now I can clearly point out one of his ideas that I have absolutely no desire to try.

Yep, when I first saw those tires a few years ago, I thought "what have they done with Grant and who is this new guy?"

Speedblends are the only Rivendell idea that I really hate.

Speedblends are the only Rivendell idea that I really hate.

So you exclude wrapping your bars in shellacked string like those hardened French touristes of the 30's?

I've enjoyed the responses to this thread. I'm now tending away from the 'blends back towards nice gumwall brown. Tires as God, not Grant, meant them to be. (Maybe I could shellac my shorts.)

So you exclude wrapping your bars in shellacked string like those hardened French touristes of the 30's?
Well, that falls under ideas I "sort of hate."

The Speedblends are completely out of step with Rivendell's aesthetic, in my opinion.

Well, that falls under ideas I "sort of hate."

The Speedblends are completely out of step with Rivendell's aesthetic, in my opinion.

I like Rivendell's offerings mostly. I ride one of their bikes and sometimes use beeswax. But, I doubt I would want a bike in coleman green, nor would I feel comfy riding in poplin button up shirts or that panama hat that Grant sometimes favors. When function over form becomes almost American gothic then, for me, it also becomes just another affectation...another niche in the marketplace trying for uniqueness. I do admire Riv, Heron, Surley, Kogswell as they depart from the Big Makers.

Seriously, I would agree with everything you just said, CC.

My wife Gloria and I spent the afternoon with Grant about a month ago, and it sure is a kick to see him in person and feel first hand how sincere he is about his beliefs. And, I go along with about 80% of what he says.

They're tires, dude, they're tires. This ain't an issue of life and death. Just get them.

They look gay.

There's nothing wrong with that.

I would get some myself, but I might be embarrassed when I didn't get going fast enough for the colors to blend... :o

Just face it. Do you plan on upping your speed on the bike? Reckon you will have to as if you ever stop in the wrong part of town- They may attract the wrong type of follower.

But seriously, because of the garish trend of todays modern bikes, I doubt if those tires would stand out as much as we might think.

They're really good tires from a tire standpoint--I've had them on my Rambouillet for a couple of years (it came with them, and I got another set at a bargain price because Grant's trying to move them out). Cosmetically, who can say? You can't see them when you're on the bike, so I don't care. I've only had one comment on them in close to 4,000 miles, though. My Rambo has a Hobo Bag on the handlebars, plus the SpeedBlends, plus a honey-brown Brooks B-17. I leaned it against a wall at a century a couple of weeks ago, and somebody walked by and nudged his buddy and said, "Well, HE'S fully accessorized." F*** him, it all works.

Will rough and ready reverse rim pick-up types single me out as a flittery twit, will OCP's gun by me with contempt, etc.?

Absolutely! Isn't that the look that you're trying for?

Wow! And to think I opted to bypass the tires with a pale yellow sidewall because I thought they were a little too much:D :D :D

Too bad they would clash with my bike:)

You're either on the bus or off the bus. ;)
With those tires, you are DEFINITELY on the "Short" bus:D

I'm thinking that if you wind up using those tires, ChrossChain just won't fit your image anymore.........

I would get some myself, but I might be embarrassed when I didn't get going fast enough for the colors to blend... :o

Every ride would become a constant interval just to keep those damned colors blended. Ease off for a minute and I'd see individual splotches. Conceit and compulsiveness would drive me to heart stoppage. Poster killed by Fred-gone-berserk sidewalls would be my BF epitaph.

I've read all the responses, have a light-hearted reply for most of them, and generally thank everyone. I should have know better than to expect consensus from you all. :D

Maybe I'll leave it in the hands of my 8-Ball!

Much as I like Rivendell, I gotta go with GEEK!

If you want to by something from Grant, Ruffy Tuffys and Rolly Pollys will never steer you wrong. They are a magical blend of supple but bulletproof.

http://i.pbase.com/g6/85/557985/2/69303627.T4Cm4tFg.jpg

Looks like you weren't the only one who thought they were cool.